How it Works

Planning a good safari is not as simple as it might seem. There are many factors to consider (time of year, budget, size of group, destination choice etc)..and it is a process. Here is how we see it working for you:

#1. You tell us

Who’s going? When you’re planning to go? How long do you have? What would you like to see / do? What you expect to spend? The more detail you can give us the better (and all those questions too)!

#2. We’ll get back to you with

Some great ideas and options to choose from, advice on how best to ensure your itinerary flows as it should, what it’s all likely to cost, any special offers that are available, and answers to all your questions.

#3. Give us your feedback

Tell us what you liked about the suggestions (and what you didn’t). Revise / reassess / trade-off. Get more input from us and continue to work together toward the ultimate goal - the safari of a lifetime. This is where the real work happens…it might take a bit of going back and forth but we always get there in the end!

#4. Finalise your itinerary

Once you have agreed on an itinerary it is up to us to get it in place by securing the rooms, booking the flights and road transfers, arranging the meet & greet, paying the camps/lodges and generally tying the whole thing together.

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African dreams arranged

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Family safaris arranged

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Life changing journeys

Our Promise

At African Encounter we are passionate about making your African safari dream come true. Here is our promise to you:

Best fit

Our mission is to work with each couple, family or group in an individual way, not just take a packaged tour off the shelf. We encourage you to talk with us! We take the time to discuss your interests, travel style, budget, and timeframe - all the factors that can influence your trip - to ensure we suggest a tour that's right for you.

Expert Advice

There is no better substitute than first hand knowledge when it comes to designing your safari. We have traveled to over 100 different safari camps, lodges, and hotels throughout Africa to ensure that our knowledge of the accommodation standards, logistics and service levels is up to date and on-the-money! In addition, we have the advantage to havelived in Africa for many years, thus ensuring we can offer you a 'real life' perspective on the issues you need to consider in planning your trip.

Designing a safari can be a bit like completing a jigsaw puzzle! And that's why you'll find that our 25 years of collective experience in the tourism industry will be invaluable to you. We know the "ins and outs" - the detailed logistics - that can make all the difference in the success of your trip.

Saving you time & money

I know it’s fun to browse the internet, see for yourself what’s on offer, plan your own trip….but it’s a steep learning curve for an African safari and it will take up (a lot of) time. Let us do the donkey work! With African Encounter you will not only make better choices, but you will save money with access to our preferred rates and special offers.

Giving you Peace of Mind

A good safari is often all in the details – dates, times, distances, flights, transfers, dietary needs, medical issues - the list goes on. We not only help plan the best safari itinerary for you but also make the arrangements that ensure it all hangs together as it should. We also have people on the ground in each country – someone who can meet your plane, ensure that you make your next transfer, hold on to some extra luggage if need be - local experts and guides who can show you around, offer advice and ensure everything goes as planned.

Take a look at our travel guide book (101 things to know when you go) ON SAFARI IN AFRICA

Testimonials

African Encounter gave us excellent advice when planning our trip, with great ideas, website links to help us make decisions and prompt replies to emails. The written itinerary had lots of information to make sure we knew what we were doing. The trip was beyond our expectations - each place we visited was quite different giving us a range of experiences. The locations were all amazing and we saw all the wildlife we hoped for and much more. Our safari guides were all helpful and went out of their way to locate the more difficult-to-find animals. Accommodation and food were excellent everywhere. We enjoyed the trip immensely and it made us want to go back to see a lot more of Africa. We would definitely use African Encounter again & would highly recommend them.

- Judy & Graeme Watman, Australia

Thanks to Patrick and the African Encounter team we had an amazing adventure in Kenya and Tanzania. With their expert guidance we tailored a diverse and very personal 4 week safari. We wanted to visit multiple locations for different wildlife viewing and their knowledge was invaluable in bringing it together. Our trip ran like clockwork, all of our transfers seamless. Whilst all our camps were amazing, chimpanzee trekking at Mahale Greystoke on Lake Tanganyika was an absolute highlight. So was seeing the all the 'Big 5' on the Mara. Visiting Africa had long been a wish and it did not disappoint.

- Sonia & David Bowden, Sydney Australia

My first trip with African Encounter was about 12 years ago. Elaine and Patrick provided knowledgeable, personalized, professional, detailed advice and trip planning. I was a first-time visitor to South Africa and that was my first safari. My experience was so outstanding that I've engaged African Encounter as my sole travel provider and willingly recommended them to friends and business associates. I cannot overstate how happy I am with this company. They treat me as if I am their only customer and have never steered me wrong. I use Elaine and Patrick to plan my travels one to two times per year with absolute confidence. They know their business hands-down! I will continue to trust them with my travel needs and unequivocally recommend them to anyone.